Joshua 21:8
 Joshua 21:8 
New International Version (©2011)
So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

New Living Translation (©2007)
So the Israelites obeyed the LORD's command to Moses and assigned these towns and pasturelands to the Levites by casting sacred lots.

English Standard Version (©2001)
These cities and their pasturelands the people of Israel gave by lot to the Levites, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Now the sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The Israelites gave these cities with their pasturelands around them to the Levites by lot, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The Israelis apportioned these cities, along with their pasture lands, to the descendants of Levi by random lot, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

NET Bible (©2006)
So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the LORD had instructed Moses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The Israelites gave these cities with pasturelands to Levi's descendants by drawing lots, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

American King James Version
And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

American Standard Version
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to every one by lot.

Darby Bible Translation
And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded through Moses.

English Revised Version
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

World English Bible
The children of Israel gave these cities with their suburbs by lot to the Levites, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel give to the Levites these cities and their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, by lot.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:1-8 The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs,.... Reaching two thousand cubits from the cities all around: these cities did not lie all together, and so could not be described by their coasts; but in the several tribes, and intermixed with their cities; which fulfilled Jacob's prophecy, that they should be divided and scattered in Israel, Genesis 49:7; as well as it was so ordered for the benefit of the several tribes, that they might have the assistance of the priests and Levites, to instruct them in the knowledge of the laws and commandments of God, and all divine things:

as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses; Numbers 35:2.


Joshua 21:8 Parallel Commentaries

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Forty-Eight Cities of the Levites
7The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 8And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. 9And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name. …

Genesis 49:5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers-- their swords are weapons of violence.
Joshua 21:7 The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
Joshua 21:9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name